Pittsburgh Penguins: Kris Letang talks about his stroke

Kristopher Letang of the Pittsburgh Penguins, at a 4–1 win over the New Jersey Devils (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you haven't seen it, this article by Josh Yohe who's the Penguins reporter for the TribLive.com, its worth a look. 

Yohe's article is about Pittsburgh Penguins defensman Kris Letang and what he has gone through after suffering a stroke. Very scary story. 

Letang's absence to the Penguins line-up is a major loss, but his long term health is more important right now.  

It was a scary time.

On the morning of Jan. 29, Letang's wife woke up to find him laying on the floor of the couple's bedroom. He was alert but knew something was wrong.

“I was not able to function,” he said.

Letang's mother-in-law is a nurse and was at their home at the time of his stroke, which stopped him from calling 911. He felt better enough later in the day to fly with the Penguins to Los Angeles.

But after a series of tests, it was determined that Letang had a stroke. He said he is still having “good days and bad days” and is still dealing with fatigue.

Letang looked noticeably thinner than normal. He has recently been given permission to work out though he isn't skating and continues to take blood thinner medication. [Read more]

Wednesday Links

College Hockey: Providence Goalie Giles making impression on the Flames. [Herald Hockey]

Thieves make off with Roberto Luongo’s tires, leave him with useless tire pump [Pass it to Bulis]

From the soon to be Brooklyn Islanders… Islanders' run of fan torture is unparalleled [The Sporting News]

Penguins Star Evgeni Malkin has a year left on his contract with the Penguins.. The Stars deny tampering with Penguins' Evgeni Malkin [CBC.CA]

Vikings News: Key stadium decisions put on hold until stadium authority reviews Wilf lawsuits and finances [Star and Tribune]

30 Teams, 30 days…. UND’s Jordan Schmaltz is ranked sixth for Blues prospects. [NHL.COM]

CHL president David Branch: Eliminating import players ‘never been discussed’ [Buzzing the Net]

Penguins-Bruins game postponed to Saturday

Per release, final decision on rescheduled day/time of game will be made by NHL, Bruins & Pens by 8:30 am ET tomorrow, Saturday, April 20^CS
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 19, 2013

Another good move by the National Hockey League and the Boston Bruins. The Boston Police and Federal Law Enforcement officials can track down the terrorist without having to worry about 1000's of people in harms way.

NEW YORK/TORONTO -- The game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins scheduled for tonight at TD Garden has been postponed, the National Hockey League announced today.
The game has been tentatively rescheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, April 20, at TD Garden beginning at 12:30 p.m., Eastern time. The game's status will be formalized no later than 8:30 a.m.
The game between the Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, scheduled for Saturday night in Pittsburgh, has been moved to Tuesday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m., ET.

Flyers are in Penguins' heads

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. San Jose Sharks (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Another good article that I found this evening.

BRUCE ARTHUR, POSTMEDIA NEWS ---- “We’re playing playoff hockey,” Crosby said. “They’re doing the same things we are.”
Laughable assertions, in this game. Only one team was clearly headhunting. This was the franchise whose star player, Crosby, is the face of the league’s concussion issues, and whose owner, Mario Lemieux, wrote a letter deriding the New York Islanders for doing just this in 2011.

“I don’t think they’re calculated, but there are some guys running around that usually don’t do that,” said Flyers defenceman Kimmo Timonen, who was thrown out for fighting Kris Letang in the wild first period. “I don’t know why you change your game for the playoffs, I don’t like that. But if they think they’re going to win that way, go ahead and do it.”

Underlying all this is the fact that the Penguins, who compiled the league’s fourth-best record in the regular season, have come apart at the seams. Before Game 3, defenceman Letang had said, “We’ll see the true face of our team. And I think we’ll see if guys have character, and we’ll prove a lot.”

The author Bruce Arthur does have a point, the Penguins don't hold the moral high ground and I think the rest of the league is getting to the point where they are tiring of the Penguins antics, they are kind of the Vancouver Canucks of the east. This was highly evident last week with the rant by John Torttorella's on the Penguins and their star players being a bunch of whiners. Torttorella was fined for his comments but his message was received by the fans around the NHL.

Related articles

• Flyers score 8 more to put Pens on the brink (cbc.ca)

Penguins' Jordan Staal not suspended for punch

NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell has spun the infamous "Wheel of Justice" and Campbell has decided that there will be no suspension for the Penguins' Jordan Staal. I guess I really don't have a problem with it, in a scrum you're going to get hit sometimes especially if you elbow someone.

NEW YORK -- The National Hockey League will not take further action on Penguins center Jordan Staal for his punch to Rangers' forward Brandon Prust's face in the second period of Tuesday's game. Staal received a match penalty and by rule he was automatically suspended until the League reviewed the incident and the Commissioner made a ruling.

"We have reviewed the play and have communicated to (Penguins GM) Ray Shero that Jordan Staal is available to play tonight," NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell said.

The Penguins host the New York Islanders tonight.

Staal hit Prust with his left fist and sent him spinning to the ice at the end of a scrum in front of the Rangers' bench. The officials first sent Staal to the box and then sent him to the dressing rooms with the five-minute match penalty.

Prust cleared out Tyler Kennedy with a hard hit and then he got his elbow up on Staal, who appeared to be coming into the fray to defend Kennedy. Staal returned the favor on Prust, dropping him to the ice with a quick left hook.

Uber Hack Matt Cooke signed for three more year with Pens.

Isn't that something? Uber Hack and disgusting life form Matt Cooke is best know for being a major league hack and cheap shotting Marc Savard with his dirty hit last March. Cooke is known for going after the little guys and skilled players and usually doesn't want anything to do with the heavy weights. Now, hopefully Cooke starts paying for his transgressions on the ice.

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Penguins and left wing Matt Cooke have reportedly agreed to terms on a three-year contract.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Tuesday that both sides agreed to the deal on Monday and that it will be made official once the NHL gives its approval.

Cooke could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He has spent the past two seasons with the Penguins, posting 28 goals with 33 assists for 61 points.

The 31-year-old veteran has also played for Vancouver and Washington in 11 NHL seasons. He has 114 goals and 157 assists for 271 points in 738 games.

Cooke may be best-known for a hit he put on Boston's Marc Savard on March 7. Savard suffered a concussion on the play and did not return until the second round of the playoffs.

There was no penalty called on the play, but Cooke's shoulder hit to the head prompted the NHL to craft a new rules proposal regarding hits to the head area. A five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct has been proposed to any player who delivers a lateral, back-pressure or blind-side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted. [TSN.COM]

This why Sidney Crosby isn't liked by a lot of fans.

This is the reason I think a lot of people refer to Sidney Crosby as Cindy Crosby. The man is an amazing talent but he is also an incredible whiner as well. Grow up Sidney and maybe more fans will embrace you... I have to admit that I am enjoying watching the Penguins get everyone's best effort this spring as well.

Craig Adams hit from behind on Marc-Andre Bergeron

The Craig Adams hit on Bergeron got him 5 minutes and a game misconduct. I am sure the hit will be reviewed by the NHL. It was a bad hit but I don't think it was a deliberate attempt to injure.